The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our reaction to conflict and complaints as we seek to act with compassion to the needs of others.
In the reading from the Prophet Amos, Amaziah Complains to the King.
* [7:14] I am not a prophet: Amos reacts strongly to Amaziah’s attempt to classify him as a “prophet-for-hire” who “earns [his] bread” by giving oracles in exchange for payment (cf. 1 Sm 9:3–10; Mi 3:5). To disassociate himself from this kind of “professional” prophet, Amos rejects outright the title of nabi’ (“prophet”). By profession he is a herdsman/sheepbreeder and a dresser of sycamore trees, but God’s call has commissioned him to prophesy to Israel. (Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law.
* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Heals a Paralytic.
* [9:1] His own town: Capernaum; see Mt 4:13.
* [9:3] Scribes: see note on Mk 2:6. Matthew omits the reason given in the Marcan story for the charge of blasphemy: “Who but God alone can forgive sins?” (Mk 2:7).
* [9:6] It is not clear whether But that you may know…to forgive sins is intended to be a continuation of the words of Jesus or a parenthetical comment of the evangelist to those who would hear or read this gospel. In any case, Matthew here follows the Marcan text.
* [9:8] Who had given such authority to human beings: a significant difference from Mk 2:12 (“They…glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this’”). Matthew’s extension to human beings of the authority to forgive sins points to the belief that such authority was being claimed by Matthew’s church. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Suzanne Braddock asked herself several questions. Which of the two wonderful events is the real miracle? Or are they both miracles in their own way? To be assured of forgiveness or to be “unparalyzed?" Do our sins paralyze us? In what way?
Since we all have sinned, do we rely on the faith of our community to release us from those bonds? Surely a faith community is a strong support. Some of us do not have access to the sacraments on a regular basis if at all, and the blessing of the sacrament of reconciliation may be sorely missed. To have a trusted friend in whom to confide may give amazing relief and assurance of God's love and mercy. (Braddock, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Healing of soul and body,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"Now in the narrative of the paralytic a number of people are brought forward for healing. Jesus' words of healing are worthy of reflection. The paralytic is not told, 'Be healed.' He is not told, 'Rise and walk.' But he is told, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven you.' The paralytic is a descendant of the original man, Adam. In one person, Christ, all the sins of Adam are forgiven. In this case the person to be healed is brought forward by ministering angels. In this case, too, he is called a son, because he is God's first work. The sins of his soul are forgiven him, and pardon of the first transgression is granted. We do not believe the paralytic committed any sin [that resulted in his illness], especially since the Lord said elsewhere that blindness from birth had not been contracted from someone's sin or that of his parents" [John 9:1-3]. (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 8.5) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:1-8 comments that the circumstances of Jesus’ healing miracles may vary, but they all had one thing in common: faith. People believed Jesus could help, and he did. In fact, faith was so important that he was not able to perform many miracles in his hometown of Nazareth “because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:58).
Do you have someone in your life who needs physical or spiritual healing? You may feel helpless as you watch them suffer. But you always have a way to help: let your faith move you to bring them to Jesus, just as the paralyzed man’s friends did. Believe that Jesus sees your faith as you intercede for them, encourage them, and even offer to pray with them. He values your persistence and won’t turn a deaf ear.
Jesus delights in every way that you try to bring people to him for help or healing. Especially when the person you are interceding for has little or no faith, he sees your faith. So don’t give up! Even if you can’t detect any change in that person’s life, you can still trust that your faith is making a difference.
“Lord, I believe that you can work wonders, even for those who don’t believe!” (Meditation on Matthew 9:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Amaziah reports to the king of Israel, which is almost a banana republic, that Amos proclaims a message for his own benefit. Is it easier to heal a broken leg or a broken heart? The man is paralyzed but with a smile on his face. Friar Jude reminds us that especially when the person we are interceding for has little or no faith, he sees our faith. So don’t give up! Even if we can’t detect any change in that person’s life, we can still trust that our faith is making a difference.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the insight of former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams who considers the importance of a rhythm or “rule” of life in Benedictine spirituality.
The idea that all of time can be sanctified—that is, that the time we may instinctively consider to be unproductive, waiting or routine activity, is indispensable to our growth into Christian and human maturity. How we spend the time we think is insignificant is important. It is not only the well-known Benedictine union of laborare and orare [work and pray], but the wider commitment to a life under “rule,” a life that takes it for granted that every aspect of the day is part of a single offering.…
Christ’s human life is open to the divine at every moment; it is not that God the Word deigns to take up residence in those parts of our lives that we consider important or successful or exceptional. Every aspect of Jesus’ humanity and every moment of his life is imbued with the divine identity, so that if our lives are to be images of his, they must seek the same kind of unbroken transparency. [2]
The Dalhousie University motto “Ora et Labora” translates from Latin as "pray and work"; it was adopted in 1870 from the Earl of Dalhousie's motto. (Rohr, n.d.)
The guidance of the Spirit in our response to daily crises and complaints will point to care and compassion as the Way that Jesus models for us.
References
Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/7?10
Braddock, S. (2024, July 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070424.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?
Meditation on Matthew 9:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/04/1015715/
Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?8
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. An Unexpected Sense of Freedom. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-unexpected-sense-of-freedom/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take Heart - Your Sins Are Forgiven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul4
No comments:
Post a Comment